Mikolas strong start lifts Rangers over Mariners

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Miles Mikolas throws against the Seattle Mariners in the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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SEATTLE - JOSH LIEBESKIND // Associated Press

Miles Mikolas dazzled for the first time in his young career. He was more than happy to share the moment with rookie catcher Tomas Telis.

In his first Major League appearance, Telis guided Mikolas through eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball on Monday night, as the Texas Rangers opened a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners with a 2-0 win.

"It was great, especially knowing coming in that they're a hot team, being able to go out there and kind of ignore that fact, pitch my game and get us a win," Mikolas said. "Get the road trip off on the right foot."

Mikolas faced two batters over the minimum, erasing two of the three hits he allowed with double plays. The right-hander struck out five and walked one. It is the first time Mikolas has not allowed a run in 10 career starts.

While Mikolas was cruising, it was Telis who was orchestrating the masterpiece.

"Telis did a heck of a job back there behind the plate," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I mean, steady hands, caught every pitch the way it was thrown, didn't put anything out the zone. He did a tremendous job, he really did."

Neftali Feliz pitched the ninth for his seventh save in eight attempts.

Seattle starter Roenis Elias struggled with command, walking four, but was able to limit the Rangers to one run in five innings. The rookie stranded runners in scoring position in three innings before giving way to the bullpen after tossing 101 pitches.

"He was his own worst enemy tonight," Seattle skipper Lloyd McClendon said. "He battled all night with his stuff, his command. I'm not sure what's going on — can't quite put my finger on it, but we've got to get it straightened out."

Rougned Odor padded the lead with an RBI groundout in the seventh, scoring Leonys Martin from third.

The Rangers' best opportunity to break the game open came in the fourth, but Adam Rosales flew out to end the threat with the bases loaded. Texas left five men in scoring position.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mariners: 2B Robinson Cano was in the lineup and batting third on Monday, a day after removing himself from the field due to the effects of an illness. Manager Lloyd McClendon said before the game that Cano was feeling better and it didn't appear the bug hit anyone else on the team.

Rangers: Texas placed OF Shin-Soo Choo on the disabled list Monday, ending his season. Choo will have surgery to remove a bone spur in his left elbow in the next couple weeks and the expectation is for him to be healthy enough to have a normal offseason. ... General manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers plan to activate LHP Derek Holland from the disabled list after his start Thursday for Triple-A Round Rock.

UP NEXT

Mariners: LHP James Paxton looks to rebound from his first Major League loss in his 11th career start. Paxton has never faced the Rangers.

Rangers: RHP Nick Martinez looks to finish the season strong after getting out to a 3-9 start with a 5.13 ERA. Martinez allowed one run in six innings in his only start against the Mariners, but was outdueled by Hisashi Iwakuma.

MAJOR LEAGUE MOMENT

Telis recorded his first career hit in the seventh. The catcher was attempting to put down a sacrifice bunt, but placed it well enough to leg out a single.

LO-MO ROLLING

Mariners first baseman Logan Morrison extended his hitting streak to nine game with a pair of singles. Morrison is hitting .394 (13 for 33) during that stretch.

Copyright 2015 Journal Media Group. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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